THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NATICK, 14 Summer St., hosts a benefit concert for the foundation Brighter Tomorrow for Africa from 4-8 p.m. The event features classic rock by the Flutie Brothers, Ernie & the Automatics, Full House, the Boston Horns and Rockphoria. Tickets are $50/$45. Call 508-647-0097 or visit natickarts.org.

WALTHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, led by Peyman Farzinpour, presents "Generation Mix," an all-Mendelssohn program, at the McDevitt Middle School, 75 Church St., Waltham, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20, free for under 16 and over 60. Call 857-919-1385 or visit wphil.org.

JAPANESE COMPOSER and pianist Yoko Nakatani performs an original work, titled "Adventures of John Manjiro," at the Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St., Natick, at 2 p.m. Joining her are Tomoko Isshiki and Judith Goff.

Call 508-647-6520 or visit morseinstitute.org.

ARTISTS' RECEPTION will be held at the First Parish of Framingham, 24 Vernon St., from 1-4 p.m. The First Parish Artists Exhibition, featuring oils, watercolors and acrylics, is on view Sundays from 1-4 p.m., through May 4.

FAMILY CONCERT, featuring a brass ensemble from the New England Conservatory's Educational Outreach Program, takes place at Emerson Umbrella, 40 Stow St., Concord, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, free for children 12 and under. Call 978-371-9667 or visit concordchambermusic.org.

'BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL' will be staged at the Sorenson Theater, Babson College, Wellesley, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Visit babsonplayers.org.

BRANDEIS THEATER COMPANY presents "Hecuba," a new translation of Euripides' story of one woman's devotion and revenge, at Mainstage Theater, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call 781-736-3400 or visit brandeis.edu.

DISNEY'S 'THE ARISTOCATS KIDS' will be performed by Starz-N-Lightz Repertory Theatre's Youth Ensemble at the Gates School Cafetorium, 75 Spruce St, Acton, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $8. Call 978-760-3116.

Page 2 of 5 - BIG APPLE CIRCUS brings its new show "Play On!" to Boston's City Hall Plaza through May 3. Tickets are $20-$65. Call 888-541-3750 or visit bigapplecircus.org.

ALGONKUIN THEATRE COMPANY holds auditions for its 2009 Shakespeare in the Parks production of "The Tragedy of Hamlet" at Norwood High School, 245 Nichols St., April 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. Call Marty at 508-272-0111 or e-mail algonkuintheatre@comcast.net.

THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NATICK, 14 Summer St. Mark Stepakoff hosts a Folk Open Mic featuring Kim Davidson at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for non-members. Call 508-647-0097 or visit natickarts.org.

THE CHAPEL CHOIR of Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge in England performs free concerts April 7 at the Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., at 7:30 p.m.; and April 8 at Saint Dunstan's Church, 18 Springdale Ave., Dover, at 7 p.m. Call 508-785-0879 or visit saintdunstansma.org.

AMAZING THINGS ARTS CENTER Join Daryl Lowery and faculty from the Berklee College of Music for a Jazz Jam at 8 p.m. Admission is $6/$5. Call 508-405-2787 or visit amazingthings.org.

THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NATICK Members of the TCAN Players host a Speak Easy, an open mic for the spoken arts, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for non-members. Call 508-647-0097 or visit natickarts.org.

OUT OF LINE STUDIO, 19 West Main St., Westborough, hosts an open house from 4-7 p.m. Meet artist Stefanie Bradie and create an artwork of your own. Call 508-380-7444 or visit outoflineartanddesign.com.

'DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE,' has its pre-Broadway run through April 12 at The Opera House in Boston. Tickets are $30-$91 or $132.50 for premium seating. Call 800-982-2787 or visit ticketmaster.com.

HOUSE OF BLUES, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston. Join Mates of State and Black Kids at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call 800-745-3000 or visit livenation.com.

MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE, 50 East Merrimack St., Lowell, stages "Bad Dates," a comedy about a single mother who tries to find love in New York City, through April 12. Tickets are $26/$31. Call 978-654-4MRT or visit merrimackrep.org.

AMAZING THINGS ARTS CENTER Join the New York City-based band Mango Blue for big band Latin jazz at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$16. Call 508-405-2787.

THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NATICK, 14 Summer St., hosts the final of its three semifinals of TCAN's Rock Showdown at 7:30 p.m., with some of the area's top high school bands including Blindfolds Aside, The Saints, One Step Away and Lotus Grove. Tickets are $8. Call 508-647-0097. Visit natickarts.org.

Page 4 of 5 - ENTER STAGE LEFT THEATER 30 Main St., Hopkinton. Lori Robak hosts an evening of improv skits fashioned after the TV show "Whose Line is It Anyway?" at 7:30. Admission is $5 to watch or play. Call 508-435-2114 or visit enterstagelefttheater.com.

NEW ART CENTER IN NEWTON, 61 Washington St., hosts a gallery talk from 4:30-6 p.m., and an opening reception from 6-8 p.m., for its new sculpture exhibit "Architecture of Fragments," featuring work by Elissa Cox, Tannaz Farsi and Petra Kralickova. Visit newartcenter.org.

'WAKE UP AND SMELL THE POETRY,' a free poetry and music series hosted by Cheryl Perreault continues at 10:30 a.m., at the HCAN-TV Studio, 77 Main St., Hopkinton, with poet, author, songwriter and educator Regie O'Hare Gibson. An open mic follows. Visit www.hcam.tv.

FAMILY MUSICAL "Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes To Town" will be performed at 11 a.m., and 2 and 5 p.m., at Citi Performing Arts Center in Boston. Tickets are $50-$25. Call 877 232-8898. Visit citicenter.org.